Stacey Burns Murder: Mother's Day Mystery

mother's day murder

Stacey Burns was a mother of five and a well-liked school nurse in the picturesque town of Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. Burns "always made you feel good," said a friend, Sonya. Burns, she said, "always had a hug for you. Always had a laugh, a smile."
Watch the full story on "20/20" Friday at 10 p.m. ET.

Courtesy Michael Keane

mother's day murder

Stacey Burns was a mother of five and a well-liked school nurse in the picturesque town of Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. Burns "always made you feel good," said a friend, Sonya. Burns, she said, "always had a hug for you. Always had a laugh, a smile."
<b>Watch the full story on "20/20" Friday at 10 p.m. ET. </b>

Courtesy Michael Keane

mother's day murder

Stacey Burns, her husband Ed Burns and their five children, twins Morgan and Madison, Michael, Shannon, and Kelly, pose on a dock.

Licensed by Ed Burns

mother's day murder

Stacey and Ed had five biological children, but a good friend, Fae says Stacey always welcomed others. "She had more than five -- she had the whole community over there. There were always kids over there."

Licensed by Ed Burns

mother's day murder

Over the years, Ed and Stacey's relationship became strained. In 2009, Stacey and Ed divorced after 17 years of marriage.

Licensed by Ed Burns

mother's day murder

Stacey with her four daughters. Her friend, Sonya, says Stacey was a great mother. "Her kids always came first. They never went without… It's what she did, and she did it well. She did it really well."

Courtesy Michael Keane

mother's day murder

Stacey and her brother, Michael Keane.

Courtesy Michael Keane

mother's day murder

After Stacey and Ed Burns divorced, she started dating Jim Vittum. Jim was a friend who later became a "friend with benefits" as Stacey put it to Sonya. But Vittum seemed to take it more seriously. "I loved her. I loved her a lot. She was amazing," he said. "Probably three months into our friendship, I think we were in love."

Licensed by Ed Burns

mother's day murder

Jim Vittum says their relationship was on and off and that he confronted Stacey about seeing another man the day before she died, but that they parted on good terms.

Licensed by Ed Burns

mother's day murder

Stacey Burns was viciously murdered on Mother's Day, 2009. Her body was discovered in her bedroom that Sunday morning by her two oldest children, Michael and Shannon Burns. Her ex-husband, Ed Burns, and her ex-boyfriend, Jim Vittum, were interviewed by police investigators but have denied any involvement. No charges have been filed in her murder.

Courtesy David Jacobsen

mother's day murder

A friend placed this note to Stacey at her grave.
<b>Watch the full story on "20/20" Friday at 10 p.m. ET. </b>